EGG-LAYING COMPETITIONS.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12091, 13 January 1905, Page 4

EGG-LAYING COMPETITIONS.

Although the deputation of poultrybreeders which waited on the Board of Governors of the Agricultural College yesterday has yet to receive the director's formal reply, there is understood to be no doubt that the authorities of the College will agree to manage, an egg-laying competition on the-terms proposed. The Utility Poultry Club will erect the necessary pens and provide the prizes, whije the College will look after the feeding of the fowls and will tabulate the results, receiving all the proceeds from the sale of the eggs. There is no doubt that the Agricultural College is the proper place for such a competition. It is gradually becoming recognised that the poultry industry might be made a very profitable one for the.colony, but to accomplish this more attention must be paid than hitherto to the proper feeding and management of fowls and the selection of the best varieties and strains. It costs little,, if anything, more to feed a hen that will lay 150 eggs and upwards in a year than one thai does not .lay more than half that number, and there is no doubt ps to which is the more profitable. A competition such as is proposed would be a valuable object lesson to farmers in general, and would undoubtedly be useful to the students at the College, and, as the spokesman of the deputation said,.the fact that the affair was nnder Mr Lowrie'a control would give competitors absolute confidence in its management. The egg-laying competitions that have done so much to promote the poultry industry in Australia, are held at the .various State Agricultural Colleges, and are becoming increasingly popular. At the Hawkesbury College, in New Sonth Wales, they are of an international character, competitors sending pens from England, America, and New Zealand, while every State in the Commonwealth iq well represented. For the competition now in progress £140 has been allotted in prizes. The largest amount, £80, is divided among the pens which lay the greatest number of eggs in the twelve months, bnt there are also good prises for the greatest number laid in the four winter months, for the pen producing eggs of the highest market valne for twelve months, and minor sums for the first month's returns, and for the greatest number in each individual month. The returns are published monthly, and great interest is in the varying fortunes of possible winners. Several pens in the last competition passed the 200 egg standard, which is the goal of so many poultry breeders, and there is no doubt that the effect of a series of competitions would be to in* crease the egg production of a country very, considerably. A Utility Poultry Club, to promote,the interests.of the "utility hen," has long beep, needed in Christchurch, and wo are glad that there is now a good prospect of its establishment, for if. it fulfils its pur-' pose it should obviate tho necessity for

New Zealand to* import; eggs ai'Tat present,; and should greatly stimulate 'tho export traded.''' • ■""•■;'■■; 7;•'. V' 7